Holding steady.
Popularity of Benard since 1890
Babies named Benard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Benard's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 15 |
| 1910s | 148 |
| 1920s | 252 |
| 1930s | 219 |
| 1940s | 198 |
| 1950s | 261 |
| 1960s | 210 |
| 1970s | 110 |
| 1980s | 76 |
| 1990s | 87 |
| 2000s | 41 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Benard is a variant spelling of Bernard that saw its peak usage in 1906, when it was most common. Over the subsequent decades, its usage declined steadily, and it has not appeared in the U.S. top 1000 since the late 20th century. The trajectory of the name is stable at very low numbers, with fewer than five births per year in recent times. While it has never been a top-ranking name, Benard carries the strong meaning of 'brave bear' from its Germanic roots and remains a traditional choice for families seeking a classic name with a distinctive spelling.
Benard is a variant spelling of Bernard, which is of Old German origin, from 'bern' meaning bear and 'hard' meaning brave or strong. The name Bernard was introduced to England by the Normans and was common in medieval times. The spelling Benard is a less common anglicized form.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ben, Benny
Sibling names for Benard
Names that share Benard's style, for a brother or sister.
